Wednesday, November 30, 2011

are yours real or fake?






Ummmm...the subject of todays post is GREENS....as in Christmas Trees and Wreaths. 

Lets not let our minds go crazy places with what I am asking is real or fake, ok?

Trees. Wreaths. 

That is all. 

Just thought that title might wake everyone up this morning. 

{wink...wink...}




Artificial trees & wreaths have always been part of my Christmas. My parents always had a 'fake' tree and I have 3 of them for our house, but truth be told, I {LOVE} the look of a real tree. 




I love the irregular shape, the smell, the natural look it has. It is just so "me".  





And to be honest, I love the idea of not having to store anything in my basement the 335 days of the year I am not using it. 

(By the way, isn't that mini flag bunting on the tree below just the cutest??? I am in love with it! I have a feeling we will be seeing bunting on one of our trees this year. It is just so simple and sweet. )






 I feel a little guilty about cutting down a living, thriving tree only to let it decorate my house for a month, then throw it to the curb as soon as its loveliness fades. But after talking to a blog friend on the phone last night, she has me feeling a little better about it. She pointed out tree farms grow Christmas trees just for this purpose, so I am not just randomly kiling an innocent tree. 

And I realize she probably things I am a total nut for even worrying about it in the first place. But I am making my annual trek to the Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, WI this weekend and I need to decide if I am going to come home with a tree strapped to my roof or not. 

(By the way...if you are anywhere near Southern Wisconsin and love big old barns, french pastries, gorgeous Christmas greens and fabulous antiques & home decor...you have to make the trek to Northwind. You can read about my visit last here and here. It is AMAZING!)



(all images can be found via my Pinterest board - Christmas)

So I just have to know, girls....

REAL or FAKE??

What are you doing this year? 











Monday, November 28, 2011

giveaway winner!




Happy Monday, girls!

Hope you had a wonderful Holiday weekend!

I am back today with the winners of my Artful Blogging magazine giveaway, then I am off to photograph things all day today for the Etsy shop! Stay tuned, I have some awesome finds getting posted later this afternoon!

But before I get to that, did you all download Heather's fabulous E-zine?? Nothing like a little eye candy...and can you believe...it's free!? You can sign up on Heather's blog, Post Road Vintage. I am between the virtual pages giving you a little info on how I transformed this cabinet for my home office. You can find some of my favorite bloggers in it, too!




Ok, onto the fun stuff....the 2 winners of the Artful Blogging magazine are:



The UnSoccer Mom
and...


Kat from Pretty in Pink & Green

Congrats, girls! Email me so I can get your package on the way!

I am off to photograph some vintage goodness now...keep your fingers crossed I get sunshine all day today! Darn this Midwest winter weather!
















Thursday, November 24, 2011

Homebound e-zine!



I have some exciting new to share!


Heather, from the beautiful blog Post Road Vintage has put together a GORGEOUS new e-zine for everyone to enjoy...and I am so lucky to have been a part of it!

You may remember me showing you a "before" of the cabinet below on my blog last month....


(click here to subscribe)


Between the virtual pages of the e-zine, I am giving some info on how I took it from 'before' to 'after'!

You can also find projects and decor inspiration from some of my very favorite bloggers:

Andrea - Faded Plains
Carol - Raised in Cotton
Lynda - Lynda Naranjo Photography
Courtney - French Country Cottage
Heather - Post Road Vintage


If you would like to have pages of endless inspiration delivered straight to your email inbox, click here or below the photo above.

No strings...no spam...and best of all this Holiday season...it doesn't cost a dime!

Just sharing the love of all things home...homemade...and vintage! I hope you will take a moment to check it out! It is Heather's very first e-zine, and I think she did a FABULOUS job!

I will be adding new goodies to my Etsy shop after the weekend, so stay tuned!

And there is still time to enter my giveaway! You could be one of 2 lucky readers to win a copy of Artful Blogging! Click here to enter!



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

thank you Artful Blogging...and a giveaway!





I just added one more thing to my list of things I am thankful for. 





I received an email a couple of months ago, asking if I would be willing to be featured as one of the bloggers highlighted in the issue they were working on. 

I thought for sure they had the wrong farmgirl. I mean, really....Moi?? In the pages of Artful Blogging? I double checked the email address, and read the email a few times before I answered. And sure enough, as crazy as it was...they were indeed asking me! Exciting, right?





I am forever grateful to Stampington & Co. and Jennifer Jackson Taylor for seeing a little something in my little corner of the world they wanted to share with all of you. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 

You have no idea how you made a girl that constantly doubts herself...feel so very humbled and just plain happy!






I thought I would share a little of that happiness this weekend...I am giving away 2 copies of this gorgeous publication!


Some of my very favorite bloggers are in this issue...

Anne from Fiona & Twig 
Tracey from French Larkspur
Tricia from A Rosy Note

and one of my all time favorite photographers...


We are taking some serious eye candy between the pages! I am in good company, or what?


Just leave me a comment on this post, and I will draw 2 names Monday morning!


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 Have a happy, happy Holiday...and safe travels!

*** COMMENTS FOR THIS GIVEAWAY ARE NOW CLOSED ***